Safety panel for bathtubs

ABSTRACT

A safety panel for partitioning a bathtub adjacent the forward end thereof. The panel is of a rigid construction and comprises a shield generally approximating the inner cross section of a bathtub. One face of the safety panel is releasably attached to the wall of the forward end of the bathtub by vacuum cups or the like and is spaced from the forward end of the bathtub a distance such that water from the spigot falls in the area between the safety panel and the forward end of the bathtub and is subjected to a mixing action before flowing into the tub proper. The panel is further adapted to protect small children from falling against the usual protrusions of the forward end of the bathtub and burns which might occur.

-United States Patent 1 1 Perkins 1 1 SAFETY PANEL FOR BATHTUBS [76] Inventor: Roger S. Perkins, 2129 Eveningside Drive, West Covina, Calif. 91792 [22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 524,031

[ 51 Dec. 16, 1975 Primary Examiner1-1enry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fitch, Even, Tabin & Luedeka [57] ABSTRACT A safety panel for partitioning a bathtub adjacent the forward end thereof. The panel is of a rigid construction and comprises a shield generally approximating the inner cross section of a bathtub. One face of the safety panel is releasably attached to the wall of the forward end of the bathtub by vacuum cups or the like and is spaced from the forward end of the bathtub a distance such that water from the spigot falls in the area between the safety panel and the forward end of the bathtub and is subjected to a mixing action before flowing into the tub proper. The panel is further adapted to protect small children from falling against the usual protrusions of the forward end of the bathtub and burns which might occur.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec.16,1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,925,831

Fig. 2.

, vides a reservoir in which hot water may be tempered SAFETY PANEL FOR BATHTUBS This invention relates generally to a bathtub safety panel for protecting small children from injuries such as are occasioned when a small child falls against protrusions at the forward end of the bathtub or is exposed 4 to hot water flowing from the spigot.

Children at an early age begin to help bathe themselves, and as they mature, constant direct supervision may become unnecessary if they are instructed not to stand in the slippery bathtub or play with the hot water control knob. For practical reasons young children may remain unattended for short periods of time in a bathtub as when the mother leaves temporarily to answer the door or the phone or to attend to other matters which require immediate attention. In these situations, there is a potential for a fall and/or burn injury.

As thorough bathing necessitates the small child standing for short periods in the bathtub even while under supervision, the child may slip and fall against the metal protrusion on the forward end of the bathtub. Young children are especially susceptible to facial and head injuries when falling against such objects.

After a child has been in the bathtub for awhile, the water may become too cool for the child s comfort. In order to warm the tub water, the childs mother may turn only the hot water on. In this situation the child may either be burned by moving into contact with the hot water as it flows from the spigot or by being exposed to the region of highly concentrated hot water which-accumulates under the spigot. Also, if a child is left unattended for a moment he may begin playing with the water knobs at the forward end of the bathtub and accidently turn on the hot water and, again, he may be subject to burns.

It is therefore'an object of the invention to provide a panel for partitioning a bathtub which shields the protrusions at the forward end of the tub and which probefore it flows into the bathing area of the tub.

It is another object of the invention to provide a panel of the kind described that generally approximates the inner cross-section of the bathtub for protecting small children from fall and burn injuries at the forward end of the bathtub.

It is another object of this invention to provide a safety panel of the kind described which is inexpensive and easily secured to the forward wall of the bathtub. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known by reference to the following'description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safety panel showing various features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a safety panel as disclosed herein affixed to a bathtub,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the center line of a bathtub in which the safety panel of FIG. 1 is installed; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of 60 FIG. 3. I

In the drawings there is illustrated a safety panel embodying various features of the invention. In general, it embodies a relatively rigid planar panel which approximates the vertical cross-section of 'the bathtub taken substantially perpendicular to'the'longitudinal dimension of the bathtub, and includes spacer means which are adapted to releasably attach the panel to the' forward end of the bathtub in a generally vertically disposed positionand spaced from the end of the bathtub a distance at least equal to the protrusion of the waters'pigot and water control knobs. This provides a barrier-to protect the childfrom falling against the spigot and water knobs and also provides a reservoir under thespigot in which the water first enters the bathtub which prevents a stream of hot water from coming into contact with the child.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a panel 12 installed in a bathtub 11. The illustrated panel 12 includes spacer means 14 adapted to releasably position the panel in the bathtub. The panel 12 generally approximates the vertical cross-section of the bathtub in.- a plant substantially parallel to the end wall 16 of the bathtub 11 and substantially divides the bathtub into forward and rear portions 18 and 20, re-

spectively. v j

The illustrated panel 12 is generally trapezoidal in shape and hasan upper edge 22 which is arcuate and side edges 23. and 25, which taper inwardly from the upper edge 22 downwardly, to generally conform to the cross-sectional shape of the bathtub 11. The arcuate upper edge 22 preferably extends above the horizontal level of the top of the bathtub to substantially shield against a small child reaching into the forward end 18 of the bathtub. The upper edge 22 of the panel 12 is rounded as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. This construction affords exposure of only a smooth rounded edge 22 to the child bathing in the rear portion 20 of the bathtub 11. The panel 12 includes a lower edge 24 divided into two side portions 26 and 28 that are adapted to rest on the bottom 29 of the bathtub 11. The bottom corners 30 and 32 of the panel 12 preferably are radiused to adegree greater than the radius of curvature, if any, of the bottom side edges 34 and 36 of the bathtub so that the corners 30 and 32 of the panel are spaced apart from the bottom side edges of the bathtub to define passageways 38 and 40 for the flow of water past the panel at such spaced apart locations.

The lower edge 24 of the panel in the preferred embodiment is centrally indented to form a triangular shaped passageway 44 centrally located on the lower edge 24 of the panel 12 for the flow of water past the panel. The size and shape of the opening 44 may vary in accordance with the desired restriction of water flowing past the panel 12 from the forward portion 18 to the rear portion 20 of the bathtub l 1. The preferred opening 44 has an apex 46 with a height of approximately 2 inches and a base 48 with a width of approximately 4 inchesalong the lower edge 24 of the safety panel 12.

The safety panel as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 includes 1 three decorative indentures 50, 52 and 54 which impart 55 rigidity to the panel and reduce the susceptibility of the safety panel 12 to deformation such as might otherwise be occasioned by exposure to sharp temperature gradients as when part of the lower portion of the safety panel 12 is submerged in hot bathing water and the upper portion of the safety panel 12 is exposed to room temperature. The indentures 50, 52 and 54 also afford a reduction in the material used in the panel 12.

While other equivalent means may be employed, the illustrated panel 12 includes spacer means 14 adapted to position the panel relative to the end wall 16 of the bathtub comprising generally conical bosses 58, and 62, which preferably are integrally formed as part of the panel 12, and project perpendicularly from the rear face 64 of the panel. The bosses 58, 60 and 62 provided with an externally threaded apex portions 76, 78 and 80, respectively. The bosses 58 and 60 in the depicted embodiment, are symmetrically located on opposite sides of the vertical centerline .of the panel. 12. The horizontal distance from the centerline and the vertical distance from the lower edge 24 of the bosses 58 and 60 dependently varies, based upon the dimensions of the bathtub. Such locations are chosen to avoid boss locations that would otherwise conflict witha spigot 66 and water control knobs 68 and 70. The lower boss 62 preferably is located on the vertical centerline of the panel 12, with its center located approximately 4 inches from the lower edge 24 along the vertical centerline in the depicted embodiment,

The length of the respective bosses 58, 60 and 62, hence the position of the panel 12 relative to the end 16 of the bathtub, is determined by the distance which the water control knobs 68 and 70 and spigot 66 extend from the forward wall'16 of the bathtub 11. In the depicted embodiment, the bosses 58, and 60 each have a length of about 3 inches and the boss 62 has a length of about 1% inches. The outboard end 76, 78 and 80 of .the bosses 58, 60 and 62 are provided with a suction cup members 72, 73 and 74 of a generally conical configuration adapted to releasably engage the forward wall 16 of the bathtub and maintain the panel 12 in position across the width of the bathtub. The suction cups 72, 73 and 74 include internally threaded apex portions 82, 84 and 86, respectively, which are received by the externally threaded apex portions 76, 78 and 80 of the bosses 58, 60 and 62 so that the length of each boss may be selectively adjusted to thereby adjust the position of the panel 12 with respect to the wall 16 of the bathtub. With the vacuum cups 72, 73 and 74 attached to the bosses 58, 60 and 62, respectively, the safety panel 12 preferably is held approximately 6 inches from the forward wall 56 of the bathtub 11. The spacing is sufficient to clear conventional bathtub spigots and water knobs and provide the desired water mixing reservoir 88 on the forward side of the panel. The shorter boss 62 compensates for the conventionally inward sloping forward wall in modern bathtubs to allow substantially vertical positioning of the panel. Extension means may be attached to the bosses to provide greater spacing between the forward wall 16 of the bathtub 11 and the panel 12 to provide adequate clearance for an unconventionally long spigot or water control knobs.

While a soft plastic or other suitable plastic coating is not required, as shown in F IG. 3, the preferred embodiment includes a soft plastic resin 90 molded over the safety panel 12 to provide cushioning for the portions of the childs body that may be thrust against the panel 12 during a fall. The complementary effect of the smooth rounded edges and the soft plastic resin 90 reduces or eliminates injury to a small child falling against the face 65 or the upper edge 22 of the panel.

The passageways 44 at the bottom center of the panel, and at the side corners of the panel, allow restricted passage of water entering the bathtub 11 through the spigot 66 from the partitional forward part 18 of the bathtub 11 into the rear portion 20 of the bathtub behind the panel 12. The passage of the water is significantly restricted by the panel 12 such that there occurs a mixing of the water entering the bathtub through the spigot 66 and the water in the forward end of the bathtub 18 before the water flows into the rear 4 portion 20 of the bathtub 11 in which the child is bathing. This mixing action reduces the relative temperature of the water passing to the rear portion of the bathtub and lessens the potential of burn injury to the child.

When the panel is attached to the bathtub 11 as indicated in FIG. 4, the lower edge portions 26 and 28 of the panel is firmly, but releasably secured to the forward wall 16 of the bathtub 11 by means of the vacuum cups 72, 73 and 74. These vacuum cups are of a suitable material such as rubber and have apex portions of hard plastic or vinyl .which are threaded along their axes and adapted to engage the threaded outboard ends of the bosses 58, 60 and 62 as indicated hereinbefore.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the panel 12 provides a protection barrier between the protruding spigot and water control knobs commonly provided in the forward end of a bathtub 11 and the small child bathing in the rear portion 20 of the bathtub. The panel prohibits the small child from falling against such protrusions and also prevents the child from coming into direct contact with hot water flowing from the spigot 66. This protection is enhanced by the smooth rounded upper edge 22 of the safety panel 12 and the relatively soft plastic coating on the panel. Further, vacuum cups 72, 73 and 74 and the relatively large surface area of panel aid in absorbing impact forces thereby reducing the possible deleterious effect of a fall.

Inasmuch as the suction cups provide for releasable attachment of the panel to the bathtub, the panel may be removed as desired for use of the bathtub by adults.

It is understood that although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, various modifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety panel adapted to partition a bathtub adjacent the forward end thereof which includes spigot or water control knobs means projecting therefrom, said bathtub including a bottom and bottom side edges comprising rigid planar panel means including front and rear faces and dimensioned to approximate the vertical cross-section taken substantially transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said bathtub, said panel including a generally rounded upper edge and a bottom edge, said bottom edge having opposite corners that are radiused to define with the bottom side edges of said bathtub passageways for the flow of water past said panel, said bottom edge being recessed generally centrally thereof to define with the bottom of said bathtub a further passageway for the flow of water past said panel, and

a plurality of spacer means extending generally perpendicularly from that face of said panel facing said forward end of said bathtub and releasably engaging said forward end to position said panel spaced apart from said forward end of said bathtub and beyond the outboard ends of said spigot or water control knobs means.

2. The safety panel of claim 1 and including a relatively soft covering over at least the exposed outer surface of said panel. 7 I

The safety panel of claim 1 and including a plurality of rigidifying indentations in at least one planar face of Said Panel means- 6. The safety panel of claim 5 wherein said mating The Safety of wherem each of sald portion of said panel comprises a generally conical spacer means comprises a suction cup. v

5. The safety panel of claim 4 wherein. each of said suction cups includes a relatively rigid portion threadly 5 of received in a mating portion of said panel means.

projection extending outwardly from that planar face said panel facing said forward end of said bathtub. 

1. A safety panel adapted to partition a bathtub adjacent the forward end thereof which includes spigot or water control knobs means projecting therefrom, said bathtub including a bottom and bottom side edges comprising rigid planar panel means including front and rear faces and dimensioned to approximate the vertical cross-section taken substantially transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said bathtub, said panel including a generally rounded upper edge and a bottom edge, said bottom edge having opposite corners that are radiused to define with the bottom side edges of said bathtub passageways for the flow of water past said panel, said bottom edge being recessed generally centrally thereof to define with the bottom of said bathtub a further passageway for the flow of water past said panel, and a plurality of spacer means extending generally perpendicularly from that face of said panel facing said forward end of said bathtub and releasably engaging said forward end to position said panel spaced apart from said forward end of said bathtub and beyond the outboard ends of said spigot or water control knobs means.
 2. The safety panel of claim 1 and including a relatively soft covering over at least the exposed outer surface of said panel.
 3. The safety panel of claim 1 and including a plurality of rigidifying indentations in at least one planar face of said panel means.
 4. The safety panel of claim 1 wherein each of said spacer means comprises a suction cup.
 5. The safety panel of claim 4 wherein each of said suction cups includes a relatively rigid portion threadly received in a mating portion of said panel means.
 6. The safety panel of claim 5 wherein said mating portion of said panel comprises a generally conical projection extending outwardly from that planar face of said panel facing said forward end of said bathtub. 